Tim Henman found Roger Federer too hot to handle last night as the world No 1 powered through to the semifinals of the Nasdaq-100 Open.

British number one Henman fought valiantly for a set and a half in the Miami heat but Swiss ace Federer moved up a gear to win convincingly 6-4, 6-2.

There was little between the two players in the first set but Henman was punished for one poor service game with the score 2-2 and Federer broke.

Henman battled back to force a break point in the eighth game but Federer responded to hold serve in emphatic style and went on to take the set comfortably.

Henman started the second set positively but again it was Federer who was the first to break.

After four routine service games, Federer forced three break points in the fifth. Henman clawed the first two back but Federer was not to be denied and took the third of them to take complete control of the match.

The momentum was now all with Federer and as Henman started to waver, the Swiss broke for a second time in the seventh game. He then held his serve to love wrap up a convincing straight-sets victory.

Henman had gone into the match with confidence high after sweeping past Czech Radek Stepanek in the previous round and boasting a winning record against Federer.

But he has now lost his last three against the brilliant Swiss, who faces Taylor Dent or Andre Agassi in the last four.